About Us

Discovering Dolhyfryd…

In October 1986, Michael and I discovered Dolhyfryd quite by chance and our lives were immediately transformed.

We found a locally advertised ‘small estate’ tucked away in a tiny valley with an overgrown garden seeming to swallow up the house within it. A turbulent river ran uncomfortably close to the front door. Woods choked with brambles and ash saplings surrounded the garden and ground elder rioted through every bed and border. An ancient kitchen garden held few survivors apart from vast box hedges and some unpruned fruit trees. There was a tumbledown greenhouse, a tottering conservatory and a mass of outbuildings in imminent danger of collapse.

However, we’d heard rumours of a wonderful sea of crocus in the spring that gave the place its name : Dol Hyfryd means beautiful meadow. For us, in our early thirties with four children, various livestock and with limited funds but boundless energy and optimism, it was irresistible. We moved out of our converted stables and began our rescue mission. Michael was working full time in Liverpool during the week and I was slightly hampered by the feral activities of our young offspring but help arrived when we really needed it. One day an old car drew up in the yard and its driver pointed at the battered trailer behind it ‘G. Jones – Chainsawing, strimming, any kind of work’ . Together we took the plunge, confronted the many challenges and have never regretted it.

Our children and grandchildren have all experienced the magic .. We hope you will too!